can you try some compressed air thru it to see if anything comes out. Do it front the inside out, in case something does come out, won't blow it all over the room. Probably blocked with bugs, or something.

YEs, Speaking tubes or voice pipes with annunciator for Mail or Milk Delivers or visitors.

http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/COMMS/voicepipe/voicepipe.htmThis link is broken, either the page no longer exists or there is some other issue like a typo.

http://www.myknobs.com/bb1218pb.htmlThis link is broken, either the page no longer exists or there is some other issue like a typo.

That is a speaking tube. Most old buildings in large cities had them. When I lived in Chicago(hated it) some places still had the speaking tubes still in service. There should have been a mouthpiece where the flapper is. You open the little flapper when you wish to speak or listen. The doorbell button is a standard electric door bell. Like most ideas from the 19th century. They work very well, you must speak into the mouthpiece much like a telephone and speak clearly. The person on the other end will hear you easily.

brckwit, your picture shows exactly what I have in my 1930 house--down to what you call the little flapper. The kitchen end is intact, but the area on the wall upstairs where it should connect has been covered over. (This was not done well, so I can tell exactly where it should be.) My questions: Did you find a way to repair yours? Did you find a source that sells parts? I would love to find one of the outer parts to make my speaking tube intercom whole again. And.....the way we used it when I was young: first you blew into the little hole without opening the flapper (This made a high pitched whistle in order to get the attention of the person on the second floor.) and then you opened the tube using the flapper and delivered your message. (Our messages were mostly things like, "Hurry up. You're going to miss the bus!"I realize this is a reply to an old post, but I'm hoping to hear from someone......